Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka has met with civil society experts for the second time in a week to discuss preserving the full functionality of the law-enforcement and anti-corruption systems.
According to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the key issue on the agenda is the discussion of the draft law No. 13533 on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and some legislative acts of Ukraine on strengthening the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) submitted by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to the Verkhovna Rada.
“Thank you for your willingness to open dialog and cooperation. Thanks, in particular, to your expertise and preliminary consultations it was possible as quickly as possible to work out a draft of legislative changes aimed at responding to the challenges and ensure the institutional independence of the anti-corruption system,” – quotes Kachka press service.
He emphasized that such interaction between the public sector and civil society is already becoming systemic, and noted that further regular coordination with representatives of civil society is planned.
It is noted that during the meeting the parties also discussed the issues of realization of transformations provided for by the Roadmap in the field of the rule of law – in particular related to the further functioning of law enforcement agencies.
As reported, on July 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a bill to the Verkhovna Rada regarding the powers of NABU and SAP.
BILL, NABU, САП, Тарас Качка
On Friday, the multinational military exercise Agile Spirit began in Georgia, which is being held for the twelfth time. The exercise is being held at the Krtsanisi base, where the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center is located.
The Agile Spirit 2025 exercise is being held in two countries – Georgia and Turkey – to help strengthen regional cooperation, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
The exercises began in Turkey on July 21 with a joint airborne operation by the United States and Turkey. In addition to the military of Turkey, the United States, and Georgia, the military of eight other countries will take part in the exercises that opened in Georgia.
At the opening ceremony, General Terry Tillis, commander of the 7th U.S. Army Training Command in Europe and Africa, said that “this is a strategic exercise that allows for increased interoperability between military personnel from different countries.”
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Switzerland is maintaining its level of involvement in helping Ukraine with humanitarian response despite the global recession in donor support, said Serge Umov, Head of Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
“As for Switzerland, I am pleased to announce that we are not reducing our humanitarian commitments. Our assistance is not as large as that provided by the United States and other European partners. But we are maintaining our involvement for at least the next few years. We do not plan to reduce our efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine,“ said Serge Umov during a roundtable discussion titled ”Humanitarian Action in War: Protection of Personnel, Innovation and Influence on World Politics” at Interfax-Ukraine.
At the same time, according to the representative of the Swiss Agency, the current crisis opens up opportunities to rethink approaches to humanitarian response.
“We will need, and we are already doing, to change some things in our approaches and the way we operate. Every crisis also opens up new opportunities,” he added.
He called localization of humanitarian aid and support for the capacity of Ukrainian organizations one of the priorities of the conditions.
Ukrtransnafta CEO Volodymyr Tsependa and Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) head Olena Duma signed an addendum to the current agreement on managing the Ukrainian section of the Samara – Western Direction” (SZN), which provides for an increase in the company’s monthly payments to the state budget from UAH 1.1 million to UAH 5 million.
“The focus is on responsible management of part of the Samara-Western Direction oil product pipeline in the new security environment of 2025,” Ukrtransnafta said on Facebook on Friday.
According to the company, the decision takes into account the updated operating conditions of the facility and is aimed at improving its efficiency.
“We view the management of this facility not only as an operational function, but as the company’s responsibility to the state to work efficiently, transparently, and results-oriented,” Tsependa said.
Ukrtransnafta emphasized that the parties had demonstrated a common position: to act proactively, ensure the continuous operation of critical infrastructure, and transparently manage state property.
As reported, the Ukrainian section of the SZN had long belonged to Prikarpatzakhidtrans LLC (Rivne), but as a result of court proceedings, it was returned to state ownership in early 2021. Ukrtransnafta won the tender for its management and in September 2021 received all the necessary documents for the operation of the Ukrainian branch of the SZN and confirmed its readiness to resume its work.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, given the impossibility of resuming the operation of the oil product pipeline in the planned direction of pumping oil products from Belarus, as well as the need to ensure the state’s defense capability to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in wartime, Ukrtransnafta began pumping diesel fuel in reverse from Hungary to Ukraine.
Ukrtransnafta, 100% of whose shares are managed by Naftogaz of Ukraine, is the operator of the country’s oil transportation system.
In 2023, Ukrtransnafta’s net profit increased by 40% to UAH 5.6 billion. In 2024, the company paid UAH 5.29 billion in dividends to its shareholder, Naftogaz of Ukraine, based on its performance in 2023.
Sunflower production in Ukraine in 2025 will not exceed 13.6-13.7 million tons, which is only 7% higher than in 2024, according to the information and analytical agency APK-Inform.
Analysts noted that weather conditions continue to reduce the yield potential of sunflower in Ukraine, particularly in the south and east of the country, where up to 50% of the total area under this oilseed crop is concentrated. Cool weather in the spring and critically low soil moisture reserves in these regions, combined with insufficient rainfall, have created unfavorable conditions for the development of oilseed crops.
According to their information, a number of farmers report that crops are in very poor condition: uneven plant growth in the field, delayed vegetation, small heads, as a result of which decisions are being made to disc these fields and prepare for winter sowing. In a number of regions, crops suffered from high temperatures in July, and hail was also reported locally.
Experts noted that crop losses in the south and east may be offset by expected better sunflower yields in the center, as well as in the west and north, where temperatures and precipitation were more favorable.
They are convinced that a significant increase in the cost of sunflower seeds in the new season should not be expected.
“First, many factories are changing their operating strategies to avoid losses and negative margins, as in the 2024/2025 season. Second, the low cost of sunflower oil, whose trade slowed in the 2024/2025 season due to lower production. Thirdly, plants will now have an advantage in the form of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed, which may contribute to an increase in the supply of oilseeds on the domestic market,” APK-Inform concluded.
Medical professionals are extraordinary people because their profession is, above all, a calling that requires tremendous inner strength, endurance, and faith, often physical as well. This is especially true in times of war. On Medical Workers’ Day, we want to share the stories of Oxford Medical doctors, because we felt true courage and humanity in their words. These stories have become a symbol of the resilience of a large family — the largest private medical network in Ukraine.
Everyone who works with patients literally holds the front line of the nation’s health, helping Ukrainians in their most difficult moments, including:
And no matter what their specialty is, more and more often, medical professionals, in addition to their direct duties, are performing a mission that is so necessary right now — providing emotional and psychological support to people.
“If I see that a patient’s problem is not with their heart, but is caused by general stress or chronic fatigue, I will still comfort them and provide psychological support, because words penetrate the soul and ultimately heal,” says cardiologist Natalia Bakhyan.
Right now, it’s tough for everyone, so the doctor thinks that medical workers should stick together and support each other, share their experiences, and give practical advice so they don’t burn out and have the resources to keep treating people.
For its part, the management of Oxford Medical notes that it feels a great responsibility, because the largest private medical network in Ukraine must not only care for patients, but also support those who save lives every day.
“In addition to our main task of providing Ukrainians with access to quality medical care, which requires a team of highly qualified specialists, state-of-the-art equipment, innovative technologies, and high-quality service, we must take care of our employees by creating comfortable working conditions, promoting their professional development, and advancing their careers. And we must provide jobs, especially to medical professionals who have lost the most precious things in their lives — their homeland, their homes, their families, and their medical practices,” says Tetyana Sydorova, director of Oxford Medical clinics in Kyiv.
Oleksandr had everything in Mariupol — respect, achievements, and a high position: he was the medical director of a private clinic. But with the start of the full-scale war, he had to leave his homeland.
“I left the city while it was under siege in April 2022. The humanitarian corridors weren’t working, so I left under fire, taking detours. First, I got to Zaporizhzhia, then Poltava. There, I decided to seek my fortune in the capital. At the end of April, I had an interview at Oxford and have been building a new life ever since,” the doctor recounts.
Part of his family left the country, but Oleksandr made an important decision to stay: “I want to make the most of my knowledge and skills to provide medical care in Ukraine. Oxford Medical welcomed me into their family with open arms. And when I faced serious personal problems, the entire team came to my aid.”
From a gastroenterologist, Oleksandr rose to become the head of a structural unit, and now he is responsible for three units in the network and thousands of patients in Kyiv.
On February 22, Anastasia and her family left for her parents’ home in the Kherson region and found themselves under occupation just a week later. The family lived without electricity, water, or gas for two months. To escape the occupation, the Ivashchenkos had to walk 12 km to the administrative border of the Dnipropetrovsk region. They eventually settled in Kyiv.
“Leaving my parents and my hometown was extremely painful. The capital greeted us with cold weather, rain, and rockets hitting the Artem factory,” recalls the medic.
At first, Anastasia worked as a “doctor without borders,” traveling around the Kyiv region during blackouts. Then she was invited to work at Oxford Medical: “They took me without any questions, even though I was still working part-time in Kherson. Here I met colleagues who were also displaced persons — from Kherson, Bakhmut, Mariupol, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions. They were kindred spirits because they had gone through the same thing as me.”
Ms. Ivashchenko still maintains close ties with doctors from Kherson and does not abandon her fellow patients in need: “My nurse now lives in Germany. As a reminder of our friendship, I wear a gift she gave me — a brooch in the shape of a phonendoscope. And patients from Kherson still call me for help. I never turn anyone away, even if they don’t have a contract with me. I still give them consultations and advice free of charge.“
Marina worked as the head of a dermatology and venereology clinic in Bakhmut for 20 years. As a leading specialist who knew her job and could solve any problem, she was valued not only in the city but throughout the Bakhmut district.
However, due to the war, in April 2022, the doctor and her family found themselves in Kyiv. A friend offered her a job at Oxford: “It so happened that I visited the clinic on Wednesday just to get acquainted, and on Thursday I already started working! They welcomed me warmly, helped me quickly integrate into the team and get used to the new structure.“
The doctor admits: ”I fell in love with Oxford with all my heart, and I hope it’s mutual, because the company has given me a lot of trust: after a while, I was offered a similar position — head of department. So, since the fall of 2023, I have been heading a large dermatology and cosmetology department in Podil.”
Marina likes the atmosphere of the network: the attitude of the management and the friendly relations with her colleagues. And she emphasizes another big plus — Oxford always promotes the development of its employees: seminars, lectures, conferences, training — the desire for self-improvement is welcomed here.
“Right now, I am specializing in surgical dermatology. Yes, I work and study a lot, come home late at night, go on business trips — on the one hand, it’s hard, but on the other, it’s inspiring. What’s more, at Oxford, they listen to us! When I became head of the department and we started to actively develop it, the company purchased modern equipment and organized training based on our recommendations. We are trying to create something new, a new space — and the management is very supportive of this,” says the doctor.
Marina has been asked many times why she did not leave the country, since with her specialty she could have found a job anywhere. But in a family of doctors, this option was not even considered: her husband is a dermatologist working in a military hospital, and their children and parents remain in the capital: “We love Ukraine very much and want to live on our land. We hope that at least someday we will be able to see our native Bakhmut. But I am extremely grateful that Kyiv has welcomed us so warmly. It’s as if it was waiting for us to start working here fruitfully. And we have succeeded because we are not standing still, but moving forward. I am proud that at this age, my husband and I are trying to do something meaningful for medicine and for our people.“
Before moving to Kyiv and working at Oxford, Natalia worked for nine years as the head of the cardiology department in Toretsk, where she had the highest category and status of leading cardiologist. However, the decision to leave Donbas had been brewing since 2021, because her city had been in the war zone since 2014 and was constantly under shelling.
With the outbreak of full-scale war, the cardiologist had to move again: she and her family found refuge in Poltava for a while, but she continued to provide medical assistance there: “When we were all scattered across different regions, Oxford came up with a great initiative: to call our patients to find out how they were doing and at least remotely advise them on medications and how to act in emergency situations.”
Sometimes, the doctor would call people sitting in basements in Irpin or Bucha. Some people were feeling ill, so she had to tell them what pills to take, what to use as a sedative, how to lower their blood pressure or calm their arrhythmia: “Everyone thanked us for our support, even if it was from a distance, but it was important to them. And for us too, because we felt needed.“
Since 2014, Dmytro has been providing assistance to the wounded in the east as part of volunteer formations.
From the first day of the full-scale invasion, as the chief medical officer of the “Hospitaliers” battalion, he led the evacuation of the wounded in the Kyiv region and assisted the Defense Forces. After the situation in the capital stabilized, he performed his duties as a medic in the hottest areas — in Bakhmut and Vuhledar. He later joined the 59th Mobile Hospital of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and worked as a vascular surgeon in the Donetsk region.
For three years now, Dmytro has been saving the lives of his comrades and civilians in a field hospital in one of the most dangerous areas. Even on the front line, he makes every effort to advise patients in need of help.
Whenever he has days off, the doctor finds time to visit his native Oxford Medical in Podil to perform surgery or consult as a vascular surgeon.
“It is important not only to save the patient, but also to give them the opportunity to return to a full life. This is our duty and our respect for the soldiers,” he says.
“Every day, we contribute to the fight against cancer. At the same time, we need to keep our hearts warm and our heads cool so that we don’t burn out and so that past experiences and cases don’t have a negative effect in the future,” the doctor concludes.
We have given just a few examples of how strong our doctors are. So let’s be proud of everyone who saves lives, supports patients, and holds the medical front line day after day.
“Thank you to our team for their dedication and care. Thank you to our patients for their trust. Together, we are a force that heals,“ says the management of the Oxford Medical network.
Cardiologist Natalia Bakhyan explains why the work of doctors is so difficult and exhausting: ”We chose this profession and live it constantly. Even when we close our office and shut down our programs, our thoughts still return to our patients: did I do the right thing, did I understand the situation correctly, did I calculate the dosage correctly, did I choose the right medication? And this work never ends. I may not remember a patient’s name, but I will always remember the diagnosis they came to me with.”
Let’s thank the medical professionals today — the people who selflessly care for our health and lives. They need our words of support now more than ever.
